LCC Gala Unites Chefs And Farmers
Leeward Community College’s Culinary Arts Program presents its annual gala, which highlights partnerships between chefs and farmers, from 6 to 9 p.m. May 5 at the Pearl City campus.
L’ulu, Leeward Culinary Arts Gala is an opportunity to invest in educational opportunities for the state’s culinary students by bringing together leaders in the industry to support of LCC’s Culinary Arts Program.
“For the past several years, the focus of L’ulu has been Hawaii Regional Cuisine, and honoring the chefs who formed that coalition and changed the face of cuisine and dining in Hawaii,” explained Tommylynn Benavente, coordinator of the culinary arts program.
Besides the delicious food prepared by chefs, instructors and students, guests can enjoy live entertainment, a silent auction, wine, beer, spirits and specialty coffees and teas in the college’s new dining and kitchen facilities.
“At last year’s L’ulu we changed the focus of the event to look toward the future and another kind of local food movement, mainly managing our natural resources and environment in a sustainable manner,” Benavente added.
Guest chefs will include Alan Wong (Alan Wong’s Restaurants), Patrick Callerec (Ama’Ama a Aulani, A Disney Resort), Jon Matsubara (Azure Restaurant, Royal Hawaiian Hotel), Chai Chaowasaree (Chai’s Island Bistro), D.K. Kodama (d.k’s Steakhouse), Mark Noguchi (Heeia Kea Pier General Store & Deli), Scott Higa (JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa), Mark Freiburg (Mariposa at Neiman Marcus), Dean Okimoto (‘Nalo Farms), Roy Yamaguchi (Roy’s Restaurants), Ian Riseley (The Pearl at LCC), Ed Kenney (Town) and Russell Siu (3660 on the Rise).
These chefs will be paired with island farmers, ranchers and fishermen. With the goal to embrace the future of food sustainability in Hawaii, teams were asked to feature a locally grown or produced product in their dish.
L’ulu focuses on using local foods to transform Hawaii’s agricultural landscape and increase partnerships between chefs and farmers to reshape the local marketplace.
